Jesse Wilson death: 8 things we know

Buckeye Police Chief Larry Hall answers questions about the identification of the remains of Jesse Wilson on March 27, 2018. Jesse had been missing since July 2016; his remains were found March 8. Mark Henle/azcentral.com

Jesse Wilson's picture sat in the front lobby of the school. He vanished July 17, 2016.(Photo: Robert Gundran/The Republic)

With the case back in the spotlight nearly two years later, here's what you need to know about how the case got to this point — and where it goes from here:

Jesse Wilson goes missing

The narrative since the beginning was that Jesse may have slipped out of his second-floor bedroom window sometime after 9:30 p.m. July 17, 2016. His adoptive mother, Crystal Wilson, reported him missing early July 18.

In April 2016, three months before his ultimate disappearance, Jesse had jumped from his window overnight and ended up several doors down at his neighbor's house. He was dressed for school and told police that's where he intended to go.

A sign displays the hashtag #LeadJesseHome outside the Bradley Academy in Goodyear on Sunday, July 24, 2016. Jesse Wilson, a 10-year-old student at the school, went missing last week. Ben Moffat/The Republic

Jesse's mid-summer disappearance drew a host of search parties, from volunteers and neighbors to trained law enforcement and federal investigators. Hundreds of people combed the West Valley community seeking information about Jesse's whereabouts.

The search perimeter extended five to 10 miles in all directions from the home Jesse shared with his mother, twin sister and older brother, near the intersection of 239th Avenue and Twilight Trail.

Searchers actively combed the area for weeks, poking around bushes, knocking on doors and using air resources to comb the area, to no avail.

Even after official search operations eased, the case has remained top-of-mind for many. A Facebook page, #FindJesseWilson, has remained an organizing spot of sorts over the years.

As months passed, Buckeye Police Department continued to be the lead agency on the case, and the investigation was ongoing. But there appeared to be no movement in the missing person's case as the one-year anniversary hit.

Human remains are found

A Buckeye municipal employee located skeletal remains March 8, 2018, near State Route 85 and Broadway Road, roughly one mile northwest of the intersection.

A closer look revealed the bones had been scattered.

The spot is relatively remote, surrounded by agriculture fields on the west edge of Buckeye but within eyesight of Interstate 10.

While the remains were found within the original search perimeter, Jesse would have had to walk more than six miles in the dark to make it there by himself.

Police said the area is prone to flooding, which may explain why the remains weren't found sooner.

At a press conference announcing Jesse's death, Hall said that initial searches for Jesse — some of which included cadaver dogs — did not reveal anything because the area had been under water, Hall said at the news conference.

How do police know it's Jesse?

Police used DNA from the bones — including a skull — and matched it to that of Jesse's biological father, confirming the identity of the remains as those of Jesse Wilson.

How did he die?

Since the bones were potentially exposed to the elements for nearly two years, it might be difficult to determine an exact cause of death.

Laura Fulginiti, a forensic anthropologist who examined the remains for the Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office, said she couldn’t comment specifically on the bones’ condition or whether they showed evidence of foul play.

If they were near the ground's surface, she said, the bones would typically be bleached white from sun exposure. If the bones were buried, they could absorb the color of the dirt. And if they spent time in and out of water, they tend to warp and crack in a way that’s similar to wood, she said.

The field where Jesse's remains were found is prone to flooding, according to police.

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If Jesse wasn't buried in the field where his remains were found, it's entirely possible water deposited the bones there not long after his reported disappearance in July 2016 or during more recent flood events.

Are there suspects?

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Buckeye Police Chief Larry Hall answers questions about the Jesse Wilson case, March 27, 2018, during a press conference at the Buckeye Police Department, 21699 West Yuma Road, Buckeye. Jesse’s remains were found March 8, he had been missing since July 2016. Mark Henle/The Republic

Detective Tamela Skaggs (right) answers questions about the Jesse Wilson case, March 27, 2018, during a press conference at the Buckeye Police Department, 21699 West Yuma Road, Buckeye. Jesse’s remains were found March 8, he had been missing since July 2016. Mark Henle/The Republic

Buckeye Police Chief Larry Hall answers questions about the Jesse Wilson case, March 27, 2018, during a press conference at the Buckeye Police Department, 21699 West Yuma Road, Buckeye. Jesse’s remains were found March 8, he had been missing since July 2016. Mark Henle/The Republic

Detective Tamela Skaggs answers questions about the Jesse Wilson case, March 27, 2018, during a press conference at the Buckeye Police Department, 21699 West Yuma Road, Buckeye. Jesse’s remains were found March 8, he had been missing since July 2016. Mark Henle/The Republic

Buckeye Police Chief Larry Hall answers questions about the Jesse Wilson case, March 27, 2018, during a press conference at the Buckeye Police Department, 21699 West Yuma Road, Buckeye. Jesse’s remains were found March 8, he had been missing since July 2016. Mark Henle/The Republic